Control device for a radiometeorograph signal transmitter



y 2, 1939- w. H. REYNOLDS 9 3 8 CONTROL DEVICE FOR A RADIOMETEOROGRAPHSIGNAL TRANSMITTER Filed June 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL DEVICEFOR A RADIOMETEORO- GRAPH SIGNAL TRANSDIITTER Application June 11, 1936,Serial No. 84,775

Claims.

My invention relates broadly to apparatus for controlling electricalcircuits according to meteorological conditions of temperature,pressure, and humidity, and more particularly to radio 5 transmittingand control apparatus adapted to be carried by a free balloon.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction ofcontrol apparatus which operates with a high degree of precision in thecontrol of electrical circuits according to variable conditions oftemperature, pressure and humidity.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of controlapparatus which may be readily mounted in position with respect to aprotective housing adapted to be elevated by a balloon and operative tocontrol the circuits of a radio transmitter for transmitting signals toan observing station according to variable conditions of temperature,pressure, and humidity to which the apparatus may be subjected.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction ofapparatus having means for timing and controlling the transmission of 2radio signals according to temperature conditions existing bothexternally and internally with respect to a protective housing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction ofapparatus in which the frame 30 structure of a suitable drivingmechanism serves as a mounting means for a frame structure adapted tocarry a multiplicity of electrical contactors which serve to control thetransmission of signals according to variable conditions of 35temperature, pressure and humidity to which the apparatus may besubjected.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction ofapparatus including a uniformly driven circuit controlling member op- 40erative in the path of a multiplicity of adjustable contactors withmeans for advancing or retracting the position of the contactors in thepath of the circuit controlling member for determining the successivetime intervals at which signals may 45 be transmitted representative ofvariable conditions of temperature, pressure and humidity.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction ofapparatus having means for controlling the transmission of timingsignals and 50 the transmission of signals designating variableconditions of temperature, pressure and humidity.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a control apparatusfor a signal transmit- 55 ter as set forth more fully in thespecification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with parts shown partially incross-section and illustrating the control apparatus of my invention;Fig. 2 is 5 a fragmentary perspective view showing the relationship ofthe adjustable contactors in the path of the uniformly driven electriccircuit control; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through thecontrol apparatus on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. i is 10 a horizontalsectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a side elevationalview of a modifled form of control apparatus embodying my invention; andFig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. 15

My invention is directed to a precision instrument adapted to control aradio transmitter mounted in a protective housing supported by a balloonadapted to be released for observing conditions in the upper atmosphere.The apparatus of my invention serves to control the transmission ofradio signals from the free balloon to the observing station. I providemeans responsive to barometric pressure, temperature and humidityconditions for controlling'the emission of radio signals from the radiotransmitter which is elevated by the balloon. Various embodiments of theapparatus of my invention may be made and I have selected forillustration the construction shown in the accompanying drawings.However, I desire that it be understood that the constructionillustrated in the drawings is not to be considered in the limitingsense but merely as illustrative of certain forms of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the control apparatus is driven bya spring wound clock I with a spindle 2 making one revolution perminute. The clock mechanism is mounted within the protective housingwhich is carried by the bal- Icon. The spindle 2 connects with thespindle M as indicated at 21). Spindle 2a projects through the wall ofthe protective housing H as illustrated and adjacent the top of thespindle 2a and at right angles thereto, there is an arm 3,

carrying two delicate contact wires 4 and 5. Plate 6, forming part ofthe frame which projects outside the protective housing, is made ofelectrically insulating material and is supported through posts 30 withrespect to insulating panel 32 which is in turn supported from frame 3|of the clockwork by members 33. All the mechanism mounted on panel 6 isinsulated from the clock frame. Concentric with plate 6 and surroundingspindle 2a but electrically insulated therefrom through an air gap is ametal bushing I, to which it attached as a spirally arranged thermallyresponsive element 8 fixed at its inner end and free to move at itsouter end. This element 8 carries on its outer turn a pin 9, which inturn is fastened to arm l0. As the temperature of element 8 changes, theouter turn describes an arc and carries with it arm l0. Thus, it may beseen that, as spindle 2a is rotating at the rate of one revolution perminute, arm ill will meet contact 5 earlier or later, depending upon thesurrounding temperature.

Accordingly, a signal may be transmitted by connecting the controlcircuit-of the radio transmitter to terminals 25 and 26 supportedrespectively on metallic frame 3| of the clockwork and on insulatedpanel 21 of the auxiliary frame structure 28. The auxiliary framestructure 28 also includes insulated panel structure 5 supported bymembers 30 from the insulating panel 32 which is in turn supportedthrough members 33 displaced in position with respect to members 30 withrespect to frame 3| of the spring wound clock Terminal 25 connects withthe spindle 2a through the mechanism of the clockwork supported by frame3| on which terminal 25 is mounted for establishing electricalconnection therewith. Circuit connections taken from terminals 25 and 25to the control circuit of a radio transmitter provide means forelectrically controlling the transmission of a signal impulse at thetime that contact wire 5 supported by minute arm 3 establishes wipingconnection with the contact carried by contact arm Ill.

A bracket attached to the clock frame 3 carries at its upper extremitybell crank lever I2, the inner portion of which, l3, bears against theface of an exhausted capsule l4. Thus, it may be seen that, with changesin barometric pressure, the top end of arm l2 in moving in and outcarries with it lever l5, which transfers its motion through pin l6 toarm I1. Arm l1, being mounted rotatably about the central axis, it maybe seenthat with changes in barometric pressure, arm |1 rotates andmeets contact 5 earlier or later in its excursion, depending upon thebarometric pressure. Fig. 3 shows the manner of imparting the operatingforce to arm |1 through the curved portion |5a of lever l5 which wouldallow lever l5 to be displaced to a position on which portion |5asurrounds the upstanding cylindrical portion of bushing 1. Theconnection is taken from contact arm l1 to binding post 34 on panel 21.Panel 21 is supported by means of pedestals 29 from insulating panel 6.A circuit connection taken from binding posts 25 and 34 to the controlcircuit of a radio transmitter serves to control the transmission of asignal when contact wire 5 carried by minute arm 3 makes connectionwiththe contact on contact arm H at a time period depending upon theangular position of contact arm I 1. As heretofore pointed out, theangular position of contact arm H is controlled in accordance withbarometric pressure under control of pressure device l4.

The contact arms I and I1 heretofore described are electricallyinsulated from the spindle 2a by means of the annular air gap separatingbushing 1 from spindle 2a. Furthermore arm I1 is insulated from arm IDby means of the insulating cylindricalcollar 35. The arms I0 and I1suitably insulated from each other are secured in position by a suitablewasher 36 and a nut 31 coacting with a shoulder and screw threads formedon the extremity of bushing 1. The contact arms are thus free to beangularly shifted in accordance with temperature and pressure conditionsto advance or retard the time of connection between contact arms l0 andH with respect to the contact wire carried by arm 3.

Arm l8 has attached to it, fibre l9, which may be made of any materialsensitive to changes in moisture, such as human hair, horse hair,goldbeaters skin, wood, or' other material. Thus, with changes in themoisture content of the air,

fibre 9 shortens or elongates, and in so doing,

moves b'ell crank lever 20. Lever 20 has attached to it at the top, r0d2|, which, through pin 22, moves arm 23. The bell crank lever 20 isjournaled at 20a on insulating panel 5 and is normally biased to apredetermined position by spring 20b supported by arm 20c. Arm 23, beingmounted concentric with the axis of the instrument, swings in an arcwith changes in relative humidity and meets contact 4 earlier or laterin its excursion. The arm 23 is journaled on the supporting member 39about which the arm is adapted to be angularly shifted. I may mount arm23 in a variety of ways and the method illustrated is not to be regardedin the limiting sense. A connection is taken from arm 23 to binding post4|. An electrical circuit may be established between binding post 25 andbinding post 4| for controlling a radio transmitter as contact wire 4carried by arm 3 engages the contact on contact arm 23. Conditions ofhumidity therefore determine the angular position of contact arm 23 andthe time contact wire 4 engages the contact carried by contact arm 23.Inasmuch as panel 21 is formed from insulationmaterial, arm 23 isinsulated from all surrounding parts except terminal 4| with which it isconnected.

Heretofore, I have described electrical contact means for determiningvariable conditions existing outside the protective housing which I haveshown generally at 42. It may also be necessary to determine conditionsof temperature existing interiorly of protective housing 42 fordetermining the temperature correction of the capsule l4 and forchecking the temperature correction of the clock; For this purpose, Iprovide a bushing member 43 through which spindle 2a passes and issupported by insulating panel 32 and spaced away from spindle 2a by anannular air gap. Bushing member 43 provides mounting means for thespirally arranged thermally responsive element 44 having pin 45 adjacentthe free end thereof and fixed at 45 adjacent the inner end thereof. Acontact arm 41 is free to be shifted angularly about spindle 2a as an"axis. Contact arm 41 is insulated from spindle 2a by reason of theannular air gap separating spindle 2a from bushing 43. Suitable securingmeans are provided on member 43 for maintaining contact arm 41 isposition, such as washer 49 and nut 48 engaging screw threads on the endof bushing 43. An electrical connection is. taken from contact arm 41 tobinding post 5|. Another arm is provided on spindle 2a as indicated at52 revolving one revolution per minute. Arm 52 carries contact wire 53which meets the contact on contact arm 41 as arm 52 revolves. Contactarm 41 is changed in angular position by virtue of the change inposition of thermally responsive element 44 connected through member 45to contact arm 41. The time at which contact wire 53 meets contact arm41 is determined by the internal temperature conditions within housing42 and the action of the flat spirally arranged temperature responsiveelement 44. The circuit for efiecting the control thus provided extendsbetween binding post 25 and binding post The entire structure andcontrol mechanism is supported from a balloon through a suitable bailmember indicated at 40.

In order to provide means for transmitting a timing signal or areference or a fiduciary sig-- nal which is uniformly and successivelytransmitted, I arrange a pair of contact wires at 54 and 55 connectedwith binding posts 56 and 51 respectively and supported from theinsulating panel 21. The contact wires 54 and 55 are arranged in thepath of the contact 4 carried by arm 3 so that as arm 3 revolves,connection is successively established with contact wires 54 and 55. Acontrol circuit extending between binding post 25 and binding posts 56and 51 respectively provide control means for the transmission ofsuccessive timing impulses.

In lieu of the superimposed arrangement of the temperature responsiveelements 8 and 44 for measuring external and internal temperatureconditions with respect to housing 42, I may adopt the arrangementillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein a frame extension 58 of insulatingmaterial is connected with frame SI of the clock mechanism and projectsexteriorly of housing 42. The frame extension 58 carries a standard 59to which the spirally arranged relatively fiat temperature responsiveelement 50 has one end fixed. The opposite end of element 50 connects toa pin 6| which in turn connects to the end of arm 62 pivoted aboutstandard 59 as a center. Arm 62 is thus angularly shifted in position inaccordance with variable temperature conditions and the action thereofon temperature responsive device 60. A link 63 interconnects the end ofarm 62 with a projecting portion 54 of contact arm 41 interiorly ofhousing 42. As arm 52 moves and imparts movement to link 63, contact arm41 is shifted to advance or retard the time of contact between thecontact carried by arm 41 and the contact 53 carried by arm 52. Thus,the contact devices interiorly of the housing 42 are controlled bychanges in temperature existing exteriorly of housing 42.

Thus, it will be seen that a variety of methods of controlling thecontact devices according to changes in temperature both interiorly andexteriorly of the housing, barometric pressure and humidity may beeffected. Should there be any confusion in distinguishing thetemperature, humidity and barometric pressure signals, I have thefollowing choice of methods of individual characterization forclarifying them: I insulate arms l0, l1 and 23 from each other andthrough the respective control circuits connected therewith, control thebroadcasting of each signal on a different frequency or wave length,having at the observing station separate receivers tuned to eachfrequency or wave length. In lieu of this, I may give each contact anidentifying characteristic, as, for instance, one contact for thetemperature arm, two contacts for the zero or fiduciary signal, threecontacts for the barometric element, and four contacts for therelativehumidity element. In order to maintain the accuracy of theinstrument, only the first of each of these signals would be used fortiming and the remainders used only as identifying characteristics.

The drawings indicate that the relative humidity element and temperatureelement are well separated from the clock mechanism, and from thebarometric capsule, for the reason that the ordinary clock is subject tosome error due to temperature changes and the same may be true of thebarometric capsule. With this construction, it is possible to housethe'barometric capsule and clock in the special thermally insulated caseand allow the fibre l9 and thermally expansive element 8 to be out inthe atmosphere that they are to measure.

There are many modifications of this device which I contemplate, and Ido not intend to limit myself to the exact construction shown, but mayemploy in my invention the combination of first, the clock andtemperature elements, second, the clock, temperature and barometric elements, and third, the clock, temperature, barometric and relativehumidity elements.

The general purpose of the device of my invention is to immediatelybroadcast weather signals from an observation balloon, the signals to berecorded on the ground and immediately plotted. Any form of suchstructure I regard as part of my invention and I intend no limitationsupon my invention except as may be imposed by the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as follows:

1. Control apparatus for a signal transmitter adapted to be carried by afree balloon which comprises a frame structure, a driving mechanismmounted at the base of said frame structure and having a rotatable shaftextending upward through said frame structure, a housing enclosing saidmechanism with said shaft extending exteriorily of said housing, contactmembers carried by said shaft exteriorily and interiorily of saidhousing, and movable coacting contacts engageable by said contactmembers upon rotation of said shaft, said movable coacting contactsbeing positioned in accordance with meterological conditions exteriorilyand interiorly of said hous- Big.

2. Control apparatus for a signal transmitter adapted to be carried by afree balloon which comprises a housing, a frame structure partly withinand partly without said housing, a driving mechanism mounted on saidframe structure within said housing and having a rotatable shaftextending through said frame structure and a wall of said housing,contact members carried by said shaft exteriorly and interiorly of saidhousing, movable coacting contacts engageable by said contact membersupon rotation of said shaft, and separate means for controlling thepositions of said movable coacting contacts in accordance withmeterological conditions exteriorly and interiorly of said housing.

3. Control apparatus for a signal transmitter adapted to be carried by afree balloon which comprises a housing, a frame structure partly withinand partly without said housing, a driving mechanism mounted on saidframe structure within said housing and having a rotatable shaftextending through said frame structure and a wall of said housing, acontact member carried by said shaft exteriorly of said housing, fixedcontacts and a plurality of movable coacting contacts engageable by saidcontact member upon rotation of said shaft, and separate meansmechanically connected withsaid movable coacting contacts forcontrolling the position thereof with respect to said fixed contacts inaccordance with different meterological conditions exteriorly of saidhousing.

4. Control apparatus for a signal transmitter adapted to be carried by afree balloon which comprises a frame structure, a driving mechanismmounted on said frame structure and having a rotatable shaft extendingvertically therethrough, a contact member carried by said shaft, a trioof movable coacting contacts; a spirally arranged thermally responsivedevice insulatingly mounted in said frame structure coaxially with saidshaft and having the outer end thereof operatively connected with one ofsaid movable coacting contacts; a barometric capsule mounted on one sideof said frame structure with the axis of its displacement normal to saidshaft, bell crank and lever means piotally mounted with respect to saidframe structure and operatively disposed between said capsule andanother of said movable coacting contacts; a support extending from thelower portion of said frame structure on the opposite side thereof fromsaid barometric capsule, bell crank and lever means pivotally mounted onsaid frame structure above said support and operatively connected withthe 2,1&6,868

third of said movable coacting contacts, a thread like elementresponsive by changes in length to changes in humidity mounted betweensaid support and the bell crank and lever means thereabove, and meansfor maintaining said thread like element under tension.

5. Control apparatus for a signal transmitter as set forth in claim 4and including a second contact member carried by said shaft between saiddriving mechanism and the aforesaid contact member, a movable coactingcontact therefor, a second spirally arranged thermally responsive deviceinsulatingly mounted in said frame structure coaxially with said shaftand having the outer end thereof operatively connected with the lastsaid movable coacting contact, and a housing for heat conservationenclosing said second thermally responsive device, said barometriccapsule and said driving mechanism.

WILLIAM H. aEYNoLDs.

